A CHURCH is set to be sold for more than £500,000 – forcing religious groups and community organisations to look for new venues.

The St Mellitus Centre in Oakhurst Road, Southend, is being sold by a charity which supports deaf people – as it works to shore up its finances – for £540,000.

It has been revealed the Royal Association for Deaf people (RAD) is “reorganising” its assets to ensure it can “better serve the deaf community”.

A charity spokesman said the decision had been “on the cards for many years”.

They added: “The sale of the premises will free up capital and redirect it towards initiatives that will have a more significant impact on the deaf community.

“Overall, the decision to sell is driven by a combination of factors aimed at ensuring RAD remains agile, adaptive and able to fulfil its mission effectively in the years to come.”

Groups which meet at the centre will need to move out, although the charity says they are being supported.

The spokesman added: “The sale of the property has been undertaken in consultation with all groups that currently use the building, and they are being appropriately supported.

“Future hiring opportunities will be negotiated with the new owners once the purchase has gone through.”

One of the groups which meets at the centre, the Deaf Club, has seen declining membership in recent years, which is said to be one of the reasons behind the sale.

The spokesman added: “We are aware that one of the other hirers has already found an alternative venue, and the Deaf Club feels it will increase attendance by moving to more centrally located meeting points.

“Moving forward, they plan to meet in cafés, pubs, and other venues.”

A spokesman for the Redeemed Christian Church of God, which is currently based at the centre, has confirmed the group is leaving but added they do not know when.

The two-storey centre includes a hall with space for up to 120 people. There is also a kitchen, bathroom, and office space on the ground floor.

But while a buyer has been found for the centre, the charity would not reveal who is taking over.